Should the Republicans Mount a ‘Charm Offensive’?

Treat liberal politicians like misguided children who need help. We already know they’re terrible at math.

The GOP sucks at public relations. Almost everyone knows it.

Sorry to use that vulgarism, but it’s the only word that fits. Since Ronald Reagan, Republicans have had, in the words of Cool Hand Luke’s Strother Martin, “a failure to communicate.” A bad one.

Yes, they have some victories, but, given that they usually have almost all the facts and truth on their side, the number of losses is staggering.

Conservative leaders like Palin and now Cruz are great at preaching to the choir, but almost never get beyond it. And the so-called moderates and RINOs excite no one.

It’s a nasty situation — particularly now in the face of the umpty-ump government shutdown with more undoubtedly to come and the Obamamedia lined up to blame intransigent Republicans.

Oh, for a Ronald Reagan!

But failing that, because a new RR doesn’t seem to be on the horizon, what can be done?

I propose it’s time to mount a Republican “charm offensive.”

Don’t laugh. It seems to be working for the Islamic Republic of Iran — and if it can work for the mullahs, whose minions scraped makeup off the faces of women with razor blades, it can work for anyone.

And when I say “charm offensive,” I don’t mean cozying up to the editors of the New York Times or the execs at CBS. That’s about as useful as trying to hit the moon with a water pistol.

Here’s what I mean. Mount a “charm offensive” toward the American people. Start to seduce them. Almost everyone believes in conservative ideas, especially in the economic area, when they stop to think about it. It’s what most parents normally teach their children. They’re just not allowed to admit it in the heat of partisan debate. They have to pull for their team or face unpleasant feedback from family and friends. Also, they’re prey to the foregone conclusions of the media.

There's a structural flaw in your idea Roger. The GOP is at war with itself. The establishment hates conservatives. They have and will join forces with the democrats to destroy any conservative who gets too "upity" and poses a threat to the beltway order. If we mount this so-called charm offensive, and liberal republicans win the hearts and minds of the American people, what have we as citizens really won? Everyone keeps saying there is no Ronald Reagan out there, but unless we find one, we'll end up living in leftist ruin, brought on overnight by democrats or sublty and slowly by republicans.

Actually, Sen. Cruz has all of those talents. He has a rapier wit, is funny, is knowledgeable, and can verbally disembowel a pinhead like Sen. Durbin with a pleasant demeanor.

People are only reacting to the characterature of him painted by the MSM, but that is a false picture.

Is he willing to fight? Decidedly YES! But we have been sorely lacking a person willing to stand up and lead such a fight. We now have at least three. The unfortunate fact is that none of them is in the leadership. Yet! So they are treated as loose cannons by elders within the caucus who get their toes stepped on by real leadership and principled action.

Does he need to pick his fights? Of course! But if the funding of Obamacare isn't a fight to pick, what is?? No, you may criticize the tactic, but he handled it masterfully, including besting Gregory on "Meet the Press". Those whose feathers were ruffled DESERVED to have their feathers ruffled, and have been largely worthless as genuine conservatives their whole careers.

McCain-Feingold anyone? And to think he was rewarded for that betrayal with the nomination!

A charm offensive works when the other side isn't in control of a permanent propaganda offensive. You can't tell the truth when the truth is being raped daily.

What we have here...is failure to communicate...by our "trusted and objective" umpires. That game is fixed. Rigged. Our communications have been stolen, gang raped and brutalized. The information stream is poisoned and toxic. IF that's the "mainstream", I don't want to drink from it.

A charm offensive is impossible if you are always on defense. Which Republicans and conservatives and anyone/everyone not a radical leftist...are.

But humor...is disarming and devastating. All we need to do is find a witty Republican with a rapier wit....or a unicorn.

I agree, Roger, as a former liberal too. Ted Cruz is great, but he will not appeal to Indies or Dems. He is simply too...I don't know...like the father in Footloose? I actually think Rand Paul and his charm is very effective, and he appeals to young people.

I would take a sure thing in Pres. Rand over another liberal victory. The country can't stand another one.

The fellow makes sense. We will be far more effective by teaching the children the truth.. in a positive way. Most are simply ignorant. We won't change minds if we are strident (although it's fun sometimes.... I have been guilty).

The truth is, the Constitution is Liberal! We, who are (rightly) called "Conservatives," ARE LIBERAL! Liberal and Conservative are NOT at opposite ends of the spectrum!

I believe in sticking with tried and true policies. (Conservative) Those policies are Liberal! Liberal is NOT socialist!

Charm offensive, scharm offensive. If we are going to keep the two-party system we need two parties and not two wings of the same Liberal Party.They'll place Jeb in the ballot in 2016 and they'll bush it again. Yawn! Pfft!

I would never call it a charm offensive in a million years, but you are on the right track.

Actually Breitbart outlined the problem and the strategy to fix it - and Roger, you are basically saying part of the same thing.

I don't have it all handy but Breitbart talked about turning Rules for Radicals against, which the left has used to devastating effect over the last 30 years to take over the media, the colleges, and the culture. But now that they are the establishment, use it back on them.

Make them live up to what they preach - loudly and at every opportunity point out the utter hypocrisy of what they do versus their "rules" - that they are the tolerant ones, the diverse ones, etc.

Another, as CFbleachers pointed out is to use humor to ridicule their stands; same as Roger points out in treating them like misguided children.

As you have stated, Americans already believe what we believe, but our messengers are ridiculed to death in the mainstream media and popular culture. Time to turn the tables.

The GOP needs to increase the size of its "big tent" When I go to a Republican Women's Club, I almost never see any black or minority women...They are ALL the LADIES Who LUNCH! and they are mostly women who rely on their husbands for their status. Look at the officers of the various women's clubs. Are there any minorities? Many women cannot afford to skip 2 hours of work and the other time needed to attend meetings. Many "other" women hate meetings and feel little is accomplished. They need some updated charities. As far as I know, the national Republican women's club is still donating books to the Mamie Eisenhower library but they don't say anything about the plight of women in many Muslim countries.

One way to start to get the upper hand would be to get rid of all the "give away" programs the Democrats have instigated....free phones, help for college tuition, help with rent etc. Consequently kids go to college who should be plumbers, hot dog sellers make as much as teachers...life is not fair and everyone does not have the same ability. This would not win many friends but a few of us would be grateful to know our anesthesiologist did not go to med school because of affirmative action. In other words: the government should tell the truth.

Mr. Simon, in all respect it won't work at all. Why? The progressives who run the Democratic Party have one and only one bible. That bible is titled "Alinsky's Rules for Radicals." Their every word and action is in strict accord with what Alinsky has instructed in his book. That's why I can't understand the Republicans continuing to act clueless. All they have to do is read the book and they'll know exactly what to expect and can come up with ways to counter.

If moderates and conservatives really want to save the country they'll buy a major television network and report the real news instead of the DNC talking poiints. Fox alone can't do it. As long as the DNC controls the news they'll control public opinion.

After AFSCME took over representation of my state's largest group of employees, "Rules" became our bible for dealing with them over time. At first we thought they were simply crazy and incompetent as union representatives, but they viewed collective bargaining simply as politics by other means and didn't really care what happened in a grievance hearing or in negotiations, just that it happened and could be used for poltical organization. We beat them like rented mules in bargaining and looked around one day and discovered that they had just bought themselves a new governor who'd essentially given them the keys to the State. He'd also promised them that he'd fire all the States senior labor relations hands.

I learned how to deal with them pretty effectively and became the first head of labor relations for my state to keep all the major units under contract for a full gubernatorial term. I did a lot of heavy lifting for Republicans in dealing with those unions and they all know it, or at least those in office at the time, but I'll guarantee you that if I showed up at some grip and grin tonight sometime in the first five minutes, I'd hear some Republican officeholder say, "here comes trouble." The kinds of people who run and get elected as Republicans simply cannot stand controversy.